Jan Bilton: Chinese new year celebration steeped in custom

2014 is the year of the horse. Photo/Thinkstock

For the Chinese, the New Lunar Year or Spring Festival generally falls on the arrival of the second new moon after the start of the northern hemisphere winter - this year on January 31.

Traditionally, celebrations continue for 15 days and 2014 heralds the year of the horse and, in particular, the green wooden horse.

The Chinese calendar is divided into 12-year cycles with each year represented by animals. The rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar all impose their characteristics on their allocated years.

Friend and colleague American-born Chinese chef Ken Hom will this year celebrate the New Year "with a wonderful banquet with close friends in London.

"Outside of China, I think London is the best place to celebrate Chinese New Year. It's such a social affair, one of the reasons we like to eat at a round table."

Ken is a prolific cookbook author and television-show presenter for the BBC.

In 2009 he was appointed an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for "services to culinary arts". However, he spends more time now at his home in the south of France, overseeing his restaurant in Rio de Janeiro and at his second home in Thailand.

Ken, who celebrates 30 years in business this year (check out www.kenhom.co.uk to download a special anniversary booklet), has some hints for a happy Chinese New Year.

Here are some ingredients to include in your celebration menus:

Cashew nuts - the shape resembles gold bars of ancient times - represent gold or money.

Chicken also represents fortune.

Vegetables encourage family harmony.

Prawns symbolise liveliness.

Fish is for prosperity.

Noodles represent longevity - never cut them.